Beverage container with hanging hook

ABSTRACT

A beverage container having a container body, a lid attachable to the container body, a handle and a hook. The handle has first and second handle portions rotatably attached to the lid and a grippable handle portion extending therebetween. The hook has a first hook end portion with a free-end portion, and a second hook end portion rigidly and fixedly attached to the first handle portion. The handle and hook may each have a frame portion formed from a metal flat band with the bands welded together. The handle frame and hook frame portions may be overmolded with a plastic covering. The hook extends laterally outward to beyond the outer sidewall of the container body when the handle is raised.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed generally to beverage containers, andmore particular to a beverage container with a handle having a hanginghook.

Description of the Related Art

Beverage containers often have handles, especially jugs for holdingwater or other drinkable liquids. During outdoor sports or recreationalactivities, such as baseball, football, track, and the like, these jugsare typically stored on the ground or placed on a player's bench becausethere is no designated area to store the jugs for easy access by aplayer. It is desirable to keep the jug off the ground and bench to bothavoid contamination of the jug and its contents, and also to store thejug so as to avoid it being unintentionally tipped over, but yet keep itin a handy location for quick access by the player. It is furtherdesirable to maintain the jug in an upright position to avoid leakage.

One solution is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 8,746,498, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The patent describes abeverage container having a handle with two hooks for hanging thebeverage container on a fence, cable or other object. To hang thebeverage container in an upright position, both of the hooks must engagethe object on which hung at the same elevational position, which can bedifficult to achieve depending on the construction and orientation ofthe object on which being hung. Further, in many situations,simultaneously engaging two hooks with the object can not only bedifficult, but also require more attention and time than desirable.Another potential problem is the weight bearing capacity of the pair ofhooks. Yet another potential problem is the location of the hooksinterfering with a user grasping the handle and comfortably carrying thebeverage container by the handle without interference by the hooks.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,746,498 describes embodiments that provide designs formoving the hooks out of the way. One such design uses a grippable handlehaving two hooks fixedly attached thereto. The grippable handle isrotatably mounted to handle support arms so that the grippable handlecan be rotated relative to the handle support arms to move the hooks toa stored position, presumably out of the way of the user grasping thegrippable handle. Another described embodiment has the two hooksrotatable but without having to rotate the grippable handle. Yet anotherembodiment has the hooks slidably attached to the handle support armsfor slidable movement into a slotted cavity for storage. These solutionsincrease the complexity and cost of manufacturing the beveragecontainer, and also make its usage more difficult for the user.

Therefore, a need exists for a new design of a beverage container thatcan be easily and quickly hung in an upright position on an object suchas a fence, which avoids the problems discussed above. The presentapplication provides these and other advantages as will be apparent fromthe following detailed description and accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a left side perspective view of a beverage container having abody and a lid, with a handle assembly having a hanging hook attached tothe lid, with the handle assembly in a lowered position.

FIG. 2 is a right side perspective view of the beverage container ofFIG. 1, with the handle assembly in a lowered position.

FIG. 3 is a left side perspective view of the beverage container of FIG.1, with the handle assembly in the raised position for carrying thebeverage container or hanging the beverage container on an object.

FIG. 4 is a rear cross-sectional view of the beverage container of FIG.3.

FIG. 5 is a left side cross-sectional view of the beverage container ofFIG. 3, with the drinking spout in a raised position.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged rear cross-sectional view of the lid of thebeverage container of FIG. 3 removed from the body.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged bottom perspective view of the lid of the beveragecontainer of FIG. 3 removed from the body.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged top perspective view of the lid of the beveragecontainer of FIG. 3 removed from the body.

FIG. 9 is a right side elevational view of the beverage container ofFIG. 3, with the handle assembly in the raised position and hung on afence.

FIG. 10 is a right side perspective view of the beverage container ofFIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a left side perspective view of the beverage container ofFIG. 9, viewed from the side of the fence opposite the side of the fenceon which the beverage container is hung.

FIG. 12A is an exploded perspective view of the internal components ofthe handle of the beverage container of FIG. 1 shown with the outercovering removed.

FIG. 12B is a perspective view of the internal components of the handleof the beverage container of FIG. 1 shown attached together.

FIG. 13A is a perspective view of the handle of the beverage containerof FIG. 1.

FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view of the handle of the beveragecontainer of FIG. 1 with an enlargement of the internal components ofthe handle having the outer covering in place.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged rear cross-sectional view of the lid of analternative embodiment of the beverage container of FIG. 3, with the lidremoved from the body and having two hanging hooks.

Like reference numerals have been used in the figures to identify likecomponents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A beverage container 10, in the form of a jug for holding water or otherdrinkable liquids, is shown in FIG. 1. The beverage container 10includes a substantially cylindrical container body 12 and a lid 14having a cylindrical lid base 16 and a bail handle assembly 18 rotatablyattached to the lid base. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the containerbody 12 has an upper portion 20 with an aperture 22, and a sidewallportion 24 extending downwardly from the upper portion 20 and closed atthe lower end of the sidewall portion by a bottom wall 26 to define aninterior beverage cavity 28 for holding water or other drinkable liquidstherein. The interior of the lid base 16 has threads and the exterior ofthe upper end portion 20 has corresponding threads for threadablyattaching the lid 14 to the container body 12, but other means forremovably coupling the lid to the container body may be used. It is tobe understood that while the beverage container 10 is illustrated as ajug, other shaped beverage containers are contemplated.

The handle assembly 18 is selectively and manually transitionable byrotation from a lowered position (see FIGS. 1 and 2) to a raisedposition (see FIGS. 3-5) and vice versa. The lowered position may bewith the handle assembly 18 rotated to a position rearward of the lidbase 16, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or to an opposite position forwardof the lid base. Typically, the beverage container 10 is stored with thehandle assembly 18 in the lowered positon, but it can be stored in theraised position, or any position therebetween. The raised position isused for carrying the beverage container 10 by the handle assembly 18and for hanging the beverage container on a fence 30, as shown in FIGS.9-11, or a cable or other object.

The lid 14 includes an upper wall 32 with a recess 34 within which aninward end portion 36 of a mouthpiece assembly 38 is rotatably receivedfor rotation of the mouthpiece assembly between a lowered position shownin FIGS. 1-4 and a raised position shown in FIG. 5. The mouthpieceassembly 38 includes a tab 40 to facilitate rotation of the mouthpieceassembly between the lowered and raised positions. When rotated into theraised position of FIG. 5, the liquid within the interior beveragecavity 28 can be selectively withdrawn by a user through a fluid channel42 in the mouthpiece assembly, which has a lower end 44 in fluidcommunication with an upper end opening 46 of a straw 48. The straw 48extends downward from the inward end portion 36 of the mouthpieceassembly 38 into the interior beverage cavity 28 and has a lower endopening 50 positioned adjacent to the bottom wall 26 of the bodycontainer 12. The mouthpiece assembly 38 and straw 48 enable a user todraw liquid from within the interior beverage cavity 28 without havingto tip the beverage container 10 to drink the liquid.

When the mouthpiece assembly 38 is rotated into the lowered position ofFIGS. 1-4, the lower end 44 of the fluid channel 42 is out of fluidcommunication with the upper end opening 46 of the straw 42 and liquidwithin the interior beverage cavity 28 cannot be withdrawn through thefluid channel in the mouthpiece assembly. Additionally, the inward endportion 36 of the mouthpiece assembly 38 is in sealing engagement withthe upper end opening 46 of the straw 42 and blocks passage of liquidout of the upper end opening of the straw, and thereby prevents liquidfrom passing into and through the recess 34 in the upper wall 32 andescaping to outside of the beverage container 10. It is to be understoodthat other constructions may be used to permit drinking of the liquidwithin the interior beverage cavity 28, such as a drink aperture in theupper wall 32 of the lid 14 with a removable cap or a valve to open andclose the drink aperture.

The handle assembly 18 includes a hook 18A and a rotatable main handle18B to which the hook is attached, as shown in FIGS. 1-4. The mainhandle 18B has a grippable handle portion 19. While shown with a singlehook 18A attached at the left end portion of the main handle 18B, it isto be understood that alternatively the hook can be attached at theright end portion of the main handle or a hook can be attached at eachof the left and right ends of the main handle (see FIG. 14), althougheven with two hooks provided, use of only one hook at a time incontemplated.

The handle assembly 18 is shown disassembled from the lid base 16 inFIGS. 13A and 13B. The illustrated embodiment of the handle assembly 18uses a single hook 18A attached at the left end of the main handle 18B,and has a frame 52 with a main frame portion 54 (comprising a part ofthe main handle 18B) and a hook frame portion 56 (comprising a part ofthe hook 18A) rigidly and fixedly attached to the main frame portion.This is best shown in FIG. 12B. The main frame portion 54 hasspaced-apart, upright first and second main frame portions 58 and 60,each having a first end portion 62 with an aperture 64 therein and aspaced-apart second end portion 66. The grippable handle portion 19 ofthe main frame portion 54 includes a grippable handle frame portion 68having a first end portion 70 rigidly connected to the second endportion 66 of the first main frame portion 58, and a second end portion72 rigidly connected to the second end portion 66 of the second mainframe portion 60. The first and second end portions 70 and 72 of thegrippable handle frame portion 68 are rigidly connected together by acentral portion 74. When the handle assembly 18 is in the raisedposition and hence the frame 52 is in a raised position, as shown inFIG. 12B, the first and second end portions 70 and 72 of the grippablehandle frame portion 68, slope upwardly and inwardly toward the centralportion 74 and terminate with a rigid attachment to the central portion.In the illustrated embodiment, the main frame portion 54 is formed froma single stainless steel metal band or strip bent to shape and form theportions thereof described above. However, other metals or materials maybe used for the main frame portion 54 which provide the desired strengthto support the weight of the beverage container 10 and its contents.

As can be seen in the exploded view of FIG. 12A, the hook frame portion56 of the frame 52 has a first upright and straight end portion 76 witha free-end first portion 78 and a second upright and straight endportion 80, with the first and second upright end portions being rigidlyconnected together by a curved connector portion 82. The first andsecond upright end portions 76 and 80, and the connector portion 82 ofthe hook frame portion 56 after being overmolded with a plastic exteriorcovering 84 define a uniform width, upright hook recess 86 with inwardand outward parallel sidewall 86A and 86B, respectively, and having adownwardly opening open end 88 when the handle assembly 18 is rotated tothe raised position, as best shown in FIGS. 6 and 13B. The secondupright end portion 80 is substantially flat and, as shown in FIG. 12B,is rigidly and fixedly attached to the second end portion 66 of thefirst main frame portion 58. In the illustrated embodiment, the hookframe portion 56 is formed from a single stainless steel metal band orstrip bent to shape and form the portions thereof described above, andthe second upright end portion 80 of the hook frame portion is rigidlyand fixedly attached to the second end portion 66 of the first mainframe portion 58 by welding. However, other metals or materials may beused for the hook frame portion 56 which provide the desired strength tosupport the weight of the beverage container 10 and its contents, andthe second upright end portion 80 of the hook frame portion may berigidly and fixedly attached to the second end portion 66 of the firstmain frame portion 58 by other than welding.

The hook 18A projects/extends radially outward from the first main frameportion 58 when the handle assembly 18 is rotated to the raisedposition, with the first upright portion 76 of the hook frame portion 56pointing downward (with the free-end first portion 78 of the firstupright portion 76 of the hook frame portion 56 being positionedimmediately below the connector portion 82). The first upright portion76 of the hook frame portion 56 is spaced laterally out of the secondupright end portion 80, such that the first upright portion 76 and thehook recess 86 are positioned laterally outward of the sidewall portion24 of the container body 12 when the beverage container 10 is in anupright position, as best seen in FIG. 4. In other words, the firstupright portion 76 of the hook frame portion 56 is positioned in a planelaterally outward of and spaced apart from the sidewall portion 24 ofthe container body 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the inwardsidewall 86A of the recess 86 is at about the same lateral position asthe outer surface of the sidewall portion 24 at the location below thefirst upright portion 76 and the hook recess 86.

By so positioning of the first upright portion 76 of the hook frameportion 56 and inward sidewall 86A of the recess 86, the beveragecontainer 10 is maintained in an upright position when attached to thefence 30 using the hook 18A, such as illustrated in FIGS. 9-11. To hangthe beverage container 10 on the fence 30, the user can simply hold thebeverage container 10 in an upright position adjacent to the fence 30,and then move it laterally toward the fence with the hook 18A and theframe portion 56 thereof aligned with a selected aperture in the fenceuntil the first upright portion 76 of the hook frame portion ispositioned on an opposite side of the fence from the sidewall portion 24of the container body 12, with the sidewall portion positioned in ornearly in contact with the fence and the downward opening end 88 of thehook recess 86 positioned above a wire of the fence on which thebeverage container is to be hung. The user can next lower the beveragecontainer 10 to position the wire of the fence 30 within the hook recess86 and move the beverage container downward until the portion of thehook 18A with the curved connector portion 82 engages the wire of thefence and the fence fully supports the beverage container. This isaccomplished without the need to tilt the beverage container 10 orrotate the handle assembly 18 out of the raised position to facilitateengaging the hook frame portion 56 with the fence, as is necessary withsome prior art beverage containers using handle mounted hooks. By beingable to keep the beverage container 10 in an upright position whilehanging it on the fence, leakage is avoided, and by not having to movethe handle assembly 18 from an upright position to facilitate hangingthe beverage container on the fence, the user may more easily andquickly complete the hanging process. In addition, once the beveragecontainer 10 is hung on the fence, the location of the first uprightportion 76 of the hook frame portion 56 and the hook recess 86 beingpositioned laterally outward of the sidewall portion 24 of the containerbody 12, facilitates retaining the beverage container in an uprightorientation and substantially parallel to the fence. Typically, thiswill allow almost the full length of the sidewall portion 24 of thecontainer body 12 to be in engagement with the fence 30, which helpsreduce swinging of the beverage container 10 while hung on the fence.

The described construction provides a rigid and strong handle assembly18 with the single hook frame portion 56 of the hook 18A providingsufficient added strength and reinforcement to support the weight of thebeverage container 10 when the interior beverage cavity 28 is full ofwater or other drinkable liquids, and a handle assembly 18 that is easyand quick to hang on a fence or other object. The hanging process can beaccomplished while keeping the beverage container 10 in an uprightposition while being hung and once hung. FIGS. 13A and 13B illustratesthe full handle assembly 18, with the a frame 52 overmolded with theplastic exterior covering 84, except for the first end portions 62 ofthe upright first and second main frame portions 58 and 60. The frame 52provides reinforcement to the plastic exterior covering 84 and theplastic exterior covering also adds strength and rigidity for the hookframe portion 56 as well as to the portions of the main frame portion 54that are overmolded.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, the handle assembly 18 is rotatablyattached to the lid base 16 by a pair of pivot pins 90. Each pivot pin90 has a head portion 92 and a shaft portion 94. The head portions 92are positioned laterally outward of the first end portions 62 of theupright first and second main frame portions 58 and 60 of the main frameportion 54, and the shaft portions 94 extends laterally inward throughthe apertures 64 of the first end portions 62 and securely engage thelid base 16. The first end portion 62 of the first main frame portion 58is rotatably attached to the lid base 16 at a left side of the lid 14,and the first end portion 62 of the second main frame portion 60 isrotatably attached to the lid base at a right side of the lid. The firstand second main frame portions 58 and 60 of the main frame portion 54are positioned along a common plane, and the hook frame portion 56extends/projects radially outward along or in a direction parallel tothe common plane and laterally outward from the second end portion 66 ofthe first main frame portion 58 to beyond the outer sidewall 24 of thecontainer body 12 when the handle assembly 18 (and hence also the mainframe portions) is in the raised position.

While the handle assembly 18 is described above as having the frame 52overmolded with the plastic exterior covering 84, the handle assemblycan be manufactured and used without such a covering, and for smallerbeverage containers where the added strength of the frame 52 is notnecessary to support the weight of the beverage container and itscontents, or to reduce the cost of the beverage containers, the hook 18Aand main handle 18B of the handle assembly can be manufactured and usedwithout a frame. Also, while the frame 52 is described as being metal,other materials may be utilized which provide adequate strength for thehandle assembly to support the weight of the beverage container and itscontents.

It is to be understood that while the beverage container 10 is primarilydescribed and illustrated as having a single hook 18A, as shown in FIG.14, the handle assembly 18 may include a second hook 18A attached to themain handle 18B, thus providing both left and right side hooks ofidentical construction, with one hook having its second upright endportion 80 rigidly and fixedly attached to the second end portion 66 ofthe first main frame portion 58 and the other hook having its secondupright end portion 80 rigidly and fixedly attached to the second endportion 66 of the second main frame portion 60. With two hooks, bothextend outward along or in a direction parallel to the common planealong which the first and second main frame portions 58 and 60 of themain frame portion 54 are positioned, and with their respective hookrecesses 86 positioned laterally outward of the outer sidewall 24 of thecontainer body 12. The two hooks 18A are arranged to extend radially,laterally outward in diametrically opposed directions from each alignedwith a diameter line of the lid base 16. Although two hooks 18A areprovided, use of only one hook at a time in contemplated.

It is to be further understood that while the beverage container 10 isdescribed and illustrated as being a jug type container body 12, thedesign of the handle assembly 18 is suitable for use on smaller beveragecontainers (e.g., personal water bottles and hot beverage containers),and useful for hanging the beverage container on a belt of the user oranother supporting article.

The foregoing described embodiments depict different componentscontained within, or connected with, different other components. It isto be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary,and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented whichachieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangementof components to achieve the same functionality is effectively“associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, anytwo components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality canbe seen as “associated with” each other such that the desiredfunctionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedialcomponents. Likewise, any two components so associated can also beviewed as being “operably connected,” or “operably coupled,” to eachother to achieve the desired functionality.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that,based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from this invention and its broader aspects and,therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope allsuch changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scopeof this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that theinvention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will beunderstood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein,and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appendedclaims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations).

Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appendedclaims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A beverage container, comprising: acontainer body; a lid attachable to the container body; a handle havingfirst and second handle portions, and a grippable handle portion, eachof the first and second handle portions having a first end portionrotatably attached to the lid and a second end portion, the grippablehandle portion having a first end portion connected to the second endportion of the first handle portion and a second end portion connectedto the second end portion of the second handle portion, the handle beingmanually rotatable between a lowered position and a raised position; anda hook having a first hook end portion with a free-end portion, and asecond hook end portion, the first and second hook end portions beingrigidly connected together by a connector portion, the second hook endportion being rigidly and fixedly attached to the second end portion ofthe first handle portion, the first and second hook end portions and theconnector portion defining a hook recess with a downwardly opening openend when the handle is in the raised position.
 2. The beverage containerof claim 1, wherein the container body has an outer sidewall, and thehook extends laterally outward from the second end portion of the firsthandle portion to beyond the outer sidewall of the container body whenthe handle is in the raised position.
 3. The beverage container of claim2, wherein the hook recess is positioned laterally outward of the outersidewall of the container body when the handle is in the raisedposition.
 4. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the first andsecond handle portions are positioned along a common plane, and the hookextends radially, laterally outward along or in a direction parallel tothe common plane.
 5. The beverage container of claim 4, wherein thecontainer body has an outer sidewall, and the hook extends outward alongor in a direction parallel to the common plane from the second endportion of the first handle portion to beyond the outer sidewall of thecontainer body when the handle is in the raised position.
 6. Thebeverage container of claim 1, wherein the second hook end portion iswelded to the second end portion of the handle.
 7. The beveragecontainer of claim 6, wherein the handle and the hook are each at leastin part stainless steel.
 8. The beverage container of claim 1, whereinthe handle includes a first metal flat band shaped to form at least aportion of the handle, and the hook includes a second metal flat bandshaped to form at least a portion of the hook.
 9. The beverage containerof claim 1, wherein the first and second handle portions are metal andinclude portions overmolded with a plastic covering.
 10. The beveragecontainer of claim 1, wherein the first and second handle portions andthe hook are at least in part metal and include portions overmolded witha plastic covering.
 11. A beverage container, comprising: a containerbody; a lid attachable to the container body; and a handle assemblyincluding: a main frame portion having first and second main frameportions, and a grippable handle portion, each of the first and secondmain frame portions having a first end portion rotatably attached to thelid and a second end portion, the grippable handle portion having afirst end portion connected to the second end portion of the first mainframe portion and a second end portion connected to the second endportion of the second main frame portion, the main frame portion beingmanually rotatable between a lowered position and a raised position; anda hook frame portion having a first hook end portion with a free-endportion, and a second hook end portion, the first and second hook endportions being rigidly connected together by a connector portion, thesecond hook end portion being rigidly and fixedly attached to the secondend portion of the first main frame portion, the first and second hookend portions and the connector portion defining a hook recess with adownwardly opening open end when the main frame portion is in the raisedposition.
 12. The beverage container of claim 11, wherein the containerbody has an outer sidewall, and the hook frame portion extends laterallyoutward from the second end portion of the first main frame portion tobeyond the outer sidewall of the container body when the main frameportion is in the raised position.
 13. The beverage container of claim12, wherein the hook recess is positioned laterally outward of the outersidewall of the container body when the main frame portion is in theraised position.
 14. The beverage container of claim 11, wherein thefirst and second main frame portions are positioned along a commonplane, and the hook frame portion extends radially, laterally outwardalong or in a direction parallel to the common plane.
 15. The beveragecontainer of claim 14, wherein the container body has an outer sidewall,and the hook frame portion extends outward along or in a directionparallel to the common plane from the second end portion of the firstmain frame portion to beyond the outer sidewall of the container bodywhen the main frame portion is in the raised position.
 16. The beveragecontainer of claim 10, wherein the second hook end portion is welded tothe second end portion of the first main frame portion.
 17. The beveragecontainer of claim 16, wherein the main frame portion and the hook frameportion are each stainless steel.
 18. The beverage container of claim11, wherein the main frame portion is a first metal flat band shaped toform the main frame portion, and the hook frame portion is a secondmetal flat band shaped to form the hook frame portion.
 19. The beveragecontainer of claim 11, wherein the first and second main frame portionsare metal and include portions overmolded with a plastic covering. 20.The beverage container of claim 11, wherein the first and second mainframe portions and the hook frame portion are metal and include portionsovermolded with a plastic covering.
 21. A beverage container,comprising: a container body; a lid attachable to the container body andhaving left and right sides; and a handle assembly including: a mainframe portion having first and second main frame portions, and agrippable handle portion, the first main frame portion having a firstend portion rotatably attached to the left side of the lid and a secondend portion, the second main frame portion having a first end portionrotatably attached to the right side of the lid and a second endportion, the grippable handle portion having a first end portion rigidlyconnected to the second end portion of the first main frame portion anda second end portion rigidly connected to the second end portion of thesecond main frame portion, the main frame portion being manuallyrotatable between a lowered position and a raised position; and a hookframe portion having a first hook end portion with a free-end portion,and a second hook end portion, the first and second hook end portionsbeing rigidly connected together by a connector portion, the second hookend portion being rigidly and fixedly attached to the second end portionof one of the first and second main frame portions, the first and secondhook end portions and the connector portion defining a hook recess witha downwardly opening open end when the main frame portion is in theraised position, the hook frame portion extending laterally outward fromone of the left and right sides of the lid when the main frame portionis in the raised position.
 22. The beverage container of claim 21,wherein the container body has an outer sidewall, and the hook frameportion extends laterally outward from the second end portion of the oneof the first and second main frame portions to beyond the outer sidewallof the container body when the main frame portion is in the raisedposition.
 23. The beverage container of claim 22, wherein the hookrecess is positioned laterally outward of the outer sidewall of thecontainer body when the main frame portion is in the raised position.24. The beverage container of claim 21, wherein the first and secondmain frame portions of the main frame portion are positioned along acommon plane, and the hook frame portion extends radially, laterallyoutward along or in a direction parallel to the common plane.
 25. Thebeverage container of claim 24, wherein the container body has an outersidewall, and the hook frame portion extends outward along or in adirection parallel to the common plane from the second end portion ofthe one of the first and second main frame portions to beyond the outersidewall of the container body when the main frame portion is in theraised position.
 26. The beverage container of claim 21, wherein thesecond hook end portion is welded to the second end portion of the oneof the first and second main frame portions.
 27. The beverage containerof claim 26, wherein the main frame portion and the hook frame portionare each stainless steel.
 28. The beverage container of claim 21,wherein the main frame portion is a first metal flat band shaped to formthe main frame portion, and the hook frame portion is a second metalflat band shaped to form the hook frame portion.
 29. The beveragecontainer of claim 21, wherein the first and second main frame portionsare metal and include portions overmolded with a plastic covering. 30.The beverage container of claim 21, wherein the first and second mainframe portions and the hook frame portion are metal and include portionsovermolded with a plastic covering.
 31. A beverage container,comprising: a container body having an outer sidewall; a lid attachableto the container body and having first and second opposed sides; and ahandle assembly including: a main frame portion having upright first andsecond main frame portions, and a grippable handle portion, the firstmain frame portion having a first end portion rotatably attached to thefirst side of the lid and a second end portion, the second main frameportion having a first end portion rotatably attached to the second sideof the lid and a second end portion, the grippable handle portion havinga first end portion rigidly connected to the second end portion of thefirst main frame portion and a second end portion rigidly connected tothe second end portion of the second main frame portion, the main frameportion being manually rotatable between a lowered position and a raisedposition; and a hook frame portion having a first hook end portion witha free-end portion, and a second hook end portion, the first and secondhook end portions being rigidly connected together by a connectorportion, the second hook end portion being rigidly and fixedly attachedto the second end portion of the first main frame portion, the first andsecond hook end portions and the connector portion defining a hookrecess with a downwardly opening open end when the main frame portion isin the raised position
 32. The beverage container of claim 31, whereinthe hook frame portion extends laterally outward from the second endportion of the first main frame portion to beyond the outer sidewall ofthe container body when the main frame portion is in the raisedposition.
 33. The beverage container of claim 32, wherein the hookrecess is positioned laterally outward of the outer sidewall of thecontainer body when the main frame portion is in the raised position.34. The beverage container of claim 31, wherein the first and secondmain frame portions of the main frame portion are positioned along acommon plane, and the hook frame portion extends radially, laterallyoutward along or in a direction parallel to the common plane.
 35. Thebeverage container of claim 34, wherein the hook frame portion extendsoutward along or in a direction parallel to the common plane from thesecond end portion of the first main frame portion to beyond the outersidewall of the container body when the main frame portion is in theraised position.
 36. The beverage container of claim 31, wherein thesecond hook end portion is welded to the second end portion of the firstmain frame portion.
 37. The beverage container of claim 36, wherein themain frame portion and the hook frame portion are each stainless steel.38. The beverage container of claim 31, wherein the main frame portionis a first metal flat band shaped to form the main frame portion, andthe hook frame portion is a second metal flat band shaped to form thehook frame portion.
 39. The beverage container of claim 31, wherein thefirst and second main frame portions are metal and include portionsovermolded with a plastic covering.
 40. The beverage container of claim31, wherein the first and second main frame portions and the hook frameportion are metal and include portions overmolded with a plasticcovering.
 41. A beverage container, comprising: a container body havingan outer sidewall; a lid attachable to the container body and havingfirst and second opposed sides; and a handle assembly including: a mainframe portion having upright first and second main frame portions, and agrippable handle portion, the first main frame portion having a firstend portion rotatably attached to the first side of the lid and a secondend portion, the second main frame portion having a first end portionrotatably attached to the second side of the lid and a second endportion, the grippable handle portion having a first end portion rigidlyconnected to the second end portion of the first main frame portion anda second end portion rigidly connected to the second end portion of thesecond main frame portion, the main frame portion being manuallyrotatable between a lowered position and a raised position; a first hookframe portion having a first hook end portion with a free-end portion,and a second hook end portion, the first and second hook end portions ofthe first hook frame portion being rigidly connected together by aconnector portion, the second hook end portion of the first hook frameportion being rigidly and fixedly attached to the second end portion ofthe first main frame portion, the first and second hook end portions ofthe first hook frame portion and the connector portion of the first hookframe portion defining a first hook recess with a downwardly openingopen end when the main frame portion is in the raised position; and asecond hook frame portion having a first hook end portion with afree-end portion, and a second hook end portion, the first and secondhook end portions of the second hook frame portion being rigidlyconnected together by a connector portion, the second hook end portionof the second hook frame portion being rigidly and fixedly attached tothe second end portion of the second main frame portion, the first andsecond hook end portions of the second hook frame portion and theconnector portion of the second hook frame portion defining a secondhook recess with a downwardly opening open end when the main frameportion is in the raised position
 42. The beverage container of claim41, wherein the first and second hook frame portions extend laterallyoutward from the second end portion of the first and second main frameportions, respectively, to beyond the outer sidewall of the containerbody when the main frame portion is in the raised position.
 43. Thebeverage container of claim 42, wherein the hook recesses of the firstand second hook frame portions are positioned laterally outward of theouter sidewall of the container body when the main frame portion is inthe raised position.
 44. The beverage container of claim 41, wherein thefirst and second main frame portions of the main frame portion arepositioned along a common plane, and the first and second hook frameportions extend radially, laterally outward in opposing directions alongor in a direction parallel to the common plane.
 45. The beveragecontainer of claim 44, wherein the first and second hook frame portionsextend outward along or in a direction parallel to the common plane fromthe second end portion of the first and second main frame portions,respectively, to beyond the outer sidewall of the container body whenthe main frame portion is in the raised position.
 46. The beveragecontainer of claim 41, wherein the second hook end portions of the firstand second hook frame portions are welded to the second end portion ofthe first and second main frame portion, respectively.
 47. The beveragecontainer of claim 46, wherein the main frame portion and the first andsecond hook frame portions are each stainless steel.
 48. The beveragecontainer of claim 41, wherein the main frame portion is a first metalflat band shaped to form the main frame portion, the first hook frameportion is a second metal flat band shaped to form the first hook frameportion, and the second hook frame portion is a third metal flat bandshaped to form the second hook frame portion.
 49. The beverage containerof claim 41, wherein the first and second main frame portions are metaland include portions overmolded with a plastic covering.
 50. Thebeverage container of claim 41, wherein the first and second main frameportions and the first and second hook frame portions are metal andinclude portions overmolded with a plastic covering.
 51. A beveragecontainer, comprising: a container body having an outer sidewall; a lidattachable to the container body; a handle having first and secondhandle portions, and a grippable handle portion, each of the first andsecond handle portions having a first end portion rotatably attached tothe lid and a second end portion, the grippable handle portion having afirst end portion connected to the second end portion of the firsthandle portion and a second end portion connected to the second endportion of the second handle portion, the handle being manuallyrotatable between a lowered position and a raised position; a first hookhaving a first hook end portion with a free-end portion, and a secondhook end portion, the first and second hook end portions of the firsthook being rigidly connected together by a connector portion, the secondhook end portion of the first hook being rigidly and fixedly attached tothe second end portion of the first handle portion, the first and secondhook end portions of the first hook and the connector portion of thefirst hook defining a first hook recess with a downwardly opening openend when the handle is in the raised position; and a second hook havinga first hook end portion with a free-end portion, and a second hook endportion, the first and second hook end portions of the second hook beingrigidly connected together by a connector portion, the second hook endportion of the second hook being rigidly and fixedly attached to thesecond end portion of the second handle portion, the first and secondhook end portions of the second hook and the connector portion of thesecond hook defining a second hook recess with a downwardly opening openend when the handle is in the raised position.
 52. The beveragecontainer of claim 51, wherein the first and second hooks extendslaterally outward from the second end portion of the first and secondhandle portions, respectively, to beyond the outer sidewall of thecontainer body when the handle is in the raised position.
 53. Thebeverage container of claim 52, wherein the first and second hookrecesses of the first and second hooks are positioned laterally outwardof the outer sidewall of the container body when the handle is in theraised position.
 54. The beverage container of claim 51, wherein thefirst and second handle portions are positioned along a common plane,and the first and second hooks extend radially, laterally outward indiametrically oppositing directions along or in a direction parallel tothe common plane.
 55. The beverage container of claim 54, wherein thefirst and second hook extend outward along or in a direction parallel tothe common plane from the second end portion of the first and secondhandle portions, respectively, to beyond the outer sidewall of thecontainer body when the handle is in the raised position.
 56. Thebeverage container of claim 51, wherein the second hook end portion ofthe first and second hooks are welded to the second end portion of thefirst and second handles, respectively.
 57. The beverage container ofclaim 56, wherein the handle and the first and second hooks are each atleast in part stainless steel.
 58. The beverage container of claim 51,wherein the handle includes a first metal flat band shaped to form atleast a portion of the handle, the first hook includes a second metalflat band shaped to form at least a portion of the first hook, and thesecond hook includes a third metal flat band shaped to form at least aportion of the second hook.
 59. The beverage container of claim 51,wherein the first and second handle portions are metal and includeportions overmolded with a plastic covering.
 60. The beverage containerof claim 51, wherein the first and second handle portions and the firstand second hooks are at least in part metal and include portionsovermolded with a plastic covering.